Hi everyone,

I ordered a few lights from Saturn at DelReyCustoms a few weeks ago.

1. Side Markers
2. Number Plate Lights
3. Front DRL LED's
4. Taillight LED's

There were some errors with the Side Markers, and Front DRL's, but Saturn made them right by sending me new ones.

Now, in the same order, I ordered the special JAP version DEPO lights which Saturn said he had to pre-order from Japan and took about 3 weeks to get to him before he'd test them and ship them out to me. I just got them yesterday and had them installed today. Everything went fine and it was plug and play, very easy to install.

I emailed DRC to remind them to check the JAP Tail lights before sending them to me, seeing that I already had some faulty lights with the Side Markers and Front DRL's. He said that they check them 3 times before shipping.

However, upon installation and inspection of the lights when they light up I noticed something, which I am not sure is correct.

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyuM...ature=youtu.be

I am based in Singapore, so we have Right-Hand Drive.

When Full Headlights or Parking Lights are on, and the brake pedal is depressed, it seems like the Left Side Tail brake lights (Passenger side in this case) light up only a portion of the Full LED's. I know that it is only supposed to light up in a "C" shape but alot less LED's light up compared to the Right Side Tail lights. This can all be seen from the video.

Also, as can be seen in the video, when the Full Headlights or Parking Lights are on (without braking), it seems that the tip (sharp end) of the Left Side Tail lights shine brighter than the rest of the entire light assembly, as compared to the Right Side Tail Lights, which light up with equal brightness throughout.



Lastly, when the headlights are off, the brake lights function perfectly and the "C" lights up equally on both Left and Right Side Tail lights.

Is this normal with all owners of these Depo lights?

I have dropped Saturn an email with the video to see what he thinks.

Thank you!

 

It seems rather strange to me that the left and right brake lights do not light up evenly?

 

 

you either have a 997.2 or you don't. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the .1 lights. why do you guys put this riced out crap on your cars when Porsche supplied with already beautiful lights. it just looks tacky to "update" like this.

 

Lol. I'm sorry? There are a lot of members here who like these lights (any variant of them) and 'update' the look like this.

Of course there are also others like yourself who don't like them, but there's no need to call it "crap". I respect your opinion but there's absolutely no need to be rude about it.

If you have nothing constructive to say or comment, anything even vaguely helpful at all, then please move along.

 

I have similar lights from Del Rey.....

Your's are NOT operating correctly.

 

yep, either you have faulty wiring or dead LED's. I think this "crap" looks good to me. Different strokes for different folks.

 

You must really really not like it when you see 20's on a 997

 

Thanks for the replies everybody! I now know there must be an issue with these lights.

Saturn has replied me saying that the rear fogs are switched on.

However, i'm very sure that the rear fogs are switched off. Also, these are completely plug and play (with just one plug) so there's no way I messed up the wiring.

Unless, the wiring was already wrong in the first place and arrived to me that way. :/


One thing I noticed is that on the plug there are 6 connection points on the Right Side, but on the Left Side (with the faulty lights) there are only 5 connection points. It seems that one of the connection points have been soldered and blocked by Porsche. Do you notice the same thing?

This is the OEM Plug by Porsche that is attached to my car. The same connection point on the DEPO lights is also shorter than the rest, and thus, does not connect.

 

It seems like the Fogs are somehow permanently switched on, even though the switch in my car is switched off. Any idea how to get the fogs to be switched off manually somehow?

The brake lights work fine when the lights are off.

 

Just checking as you probably already know. You rotate the light switch to turn on/off the lights. Pull the switch out one notch for front fogs only. Pull the switch out two notches for front and rear fogs. Be certain your switch is pushed in and rotated only.

Not sure if the left/right cable harnesses and plugs are the same. Maybe temporary swap them left/right to check if the lighting issues moves with the light or stays on the left side of the car. Obviously they won't mount reversed but you might be able to check the wiring this way.

 

Yup I checked the fogs, and that is my understanding of how they work as well. But i'm sure the switch is pushed in a rotated only. So its definitely not an issue with the interior switch.

Hmm. Good idea, I will try swapping the lights tomorrow and see if the issue moves.

 

just put the original tail light back to the car and test the rear fog light, then you can see if the issue is from your light switch or form the new depo.

 

An update to this:

Today I removed the lights again to try once more and troubleshoot this issue.

As shown in the pics below, the Left Side Cables (both on the car and on the DEPO Lights) have 5 spade connectors, instead of 6 spade connectors which the Right Side Cables have.
Is this the same case with other 997.1 owners?



First two photos: OEM Porsche Cable (connected to the car)
Second two photos: Cable attached to DEPO Taillights

Particularly, the one which has been soldered and blocked off (By Porsche as this is the OEM connector on the car) corresponds to number "6" as shown in the pics. The number 6 spade connector is shorter than the rest, but it does not matter anyway, as theres no contact point on the other cable.

I removed the lights and checked all the connections were tight, and then replaced the lights back on. Guess what? Now the lights work fine on both sides, EXCEPT that the fog lights do not turn on on the left tail lights. While I hardly ever have a reason to switch on rear fogs in Singapore, i'm still wondering if this is normal?

 

Mine has 6 contact holes from the car & 6 raised pins from the DEPO light.